CCS Runs Christmas In July
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
It's Christmas time.
No, it's not snowing. Temperatures are reaching the boiling point, not freezing. And Santa Claus isn't due for another five months.
But Combined Community Services is celebrating Christmas in July as a way to gather school supplies for the upcoming school year for students in need.
"Christmas in July is for families who may not be necessarily able to afford school supplies. We don't want kids to go back to school without supplies," said CCS assistant director Jake Murray.
CCS works with local school corporations to find out what each child needs for their particular grade. Once the list is compiled, CCS begins collecting supplies. Barrels are placed at local stores for people to make donations. CCS, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, is now accepting donations.
As the donations roll in, packets of the supplies are made for each student.
"Last year," said Murray, "we helped over 400 kids."
Christmas in July doesn't have a budget. It is a project based entirely on donations.
"Everything we have, we give back out," Murray said.
Two volunteer coordinators, Tammy Dalton and Cristine Cracknell, organize the event. They call local businesses and get in touch with churches. The event officially runs from the last week of July to the first week of August, but supplies are accepted from now until school starts.
Last year, participating businesses included Big Lots, Dollar General, Wal-Mart and Staples. This year's stores haven't been organized yet, Murray said, but he expects local businesses to be willing participants.
"Once we get everything in, we get volunteers to pack everything up," Murray said.
As for which children qualify for the assistance, Murray said, "If there's a need, we're going to help them, even more so with school supplies. It's not fair for any kid to go back (to school) without school supplies."
This is the eighth year for Christmas in July. Last year, businesses donated duffel bags and three-ring binders to the program.
"We ended up giving out, each grade, $20 to $30 easily. Probably more," Murray said.
Basic supplies needed include: Elmer's school glue (4-ounce bottle), rubber cement, folders with pockets, school box, Fiskar scissors (not plastic), crayons (box of 24), No. 2 pencils, box of colored pencils, large soft rubber eraser, blue or black pens (no red), box of washable markers, rulers (English or metric system), protractor and compass, waterproof school bag and notebook or notebook paper (wide rule, no spiral edges). [[In-content Ad]]
It's Christmas time.
No, it's not snowing. Temperatures are reaching the boiling point, not freezing. And Santa Claus isn't due for another five months.
But Combined Community Services is celebrating Christmas in July as a way to gather school supplies for the upcoming school year for students in need.
"Christmas in July is for families who may not be necessarily able to afford school supplies. We don't want kids to go back to school without supplies," said CCS assistant director Jake Murray.
CCS works with local school corporations to find out what each child needs for their particular grade. Once the list is compiled, CCS begins collecting supplies. Barrels are placed at local stores for people to make donations. CCS, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, is now accepting donations.
As the donations roll in, packets of the supplies are made for each student.
"Last year," said Murray, "we helped over 400 kids."
Christmas in July doesn't have a budget. It is a project based entirely on donations.
"Everything we have, we give back out," Murray said.
Two volunteer coordinators, Tammy Dalton and Cristine Cracknell, organize the event. They call local businesses and get in touch with churches. The event officially runs from the last week of July to the first week of August, but supplies are accepted from now until school starts.
Last year, participating businesses included Big Lots, Dollar General, Wal-Mart and Staples. This year's stores haven't been organized yet, Murray said, but he expects local businesses to be willing participants.
"Once we get everything in, we get volunteers to pack everything up," Murray said.
As for which children qualify for the assistance, Murray said, "If there's a need, we're going to help them, even more so with school supplies. It's not fair for any kid to go back (to school) without school supplies."
This is the eighth year for Christmas in July. Last year, businesses donated duffel bags and three-ring binders to the program.
"We ended up giving out, each grade, $20 to $30 easily. Probably more," Murray said.
Basic supplies needed include: Elmer's school glue (4-ounce bottle), rubber cement, folders with pockets, school box, Fiskar scissors (not plastic), crayons (box of 24), No. 2 pencils, box of colored pencils, large soft rubber eraser, blue or black pens (no red), box of washable markers, rulers (English or metric system), protractor and compass, waterproof school bag and notebook or notebook paper (wide rule, no spiral edges). [[In-content Ad]]